Balancing a Rod

[San Chan]

1) How should a Well Balanced Rod feels/look like?

2) With the reel on the rod in your Palm, is the tip suppose to point up or down?

3) BaitCaster and Spnning Rig the same balancing way?

4) Is this {http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog.SearchResults?cmid=TOP_SEARCH_GO} the only way to balance it?

:confused:

[Chad]

>1) How should a Well Balanced Rod feels/look like?
>
>2) With the reel on the rod in your Palm, is the tip suppose
>to point up or down?
>
>3) BaitCaster and Spnning Rig the same balancing way?
>
>4) Is this
>{http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog.SearchResults?cmid=TOP_SEARCH_GO}
>the only way to balance it?
>
>:confused:


It really depends on what the combo is going to be used for.

When using light tackle you would want it balanced pretty neutral with just a slight tip up.

Wehn using heavy lures I would want it pretty back weighted with it up a lot as the lure will be pulling it down. You can counter act this with a heavier reel. I know Burr likes to use a line counter reel when pulling 3 & 4oz bouncers to balance or counter the weight.

Other than that I really do not pay lots of attention to being balanced. For casting I like to have a light reel and light rod which means I buy a more expensive rod. This is because when I cast I am usually casting all day and the lighter weight makes for less fatigue.

ChadM

[Mattman]

A "well balanced rod" is all in the eye of the beholder. I balance rods for customers and some want tip up, some tip down, some to sit level, and just about every combination in between. What ever feels best to you is the best answer here.

There are a great number of ways to balance. From taping lead strip around the butt of your rod, to crutch caps filled with lead washers, to purchased units, to having a custom builder reconfigure your rod for threaded balancers.

I, personlly, don't balance any of my rods. Its a waste of time in my opinion. Also a big waste of a high end rod. I got a high end blank and components partially because of its light weight. Adding weight to it defeats the purpose of having a light weight rod. I'll take an unbalanced 2.8 ounce rod over a balanced 4 ounce rod any day.

I add balancing kits to about 15% of my custom rods. Maybe even as little as 10%.

Matt Davis

Better to have and not need than to need and not have!

[San Chan]

>
>
>
>A "well balanced rod" is all in the eye of the beholder. I
>balance rods for customers and some want tip up, some tip
>down, some to sit level, and just about every combination in
>between. What ever feels best to you is the best answer here.
>
>
>There are a great number of ways to balance. From taping lead
>strip around the butt of your rod, to crutch caps filled with
>lead washers, to purchased units, to having a custom builder
>reconfigure your rod for threaded balancers.
>
>I, personlly, don't balance any of my rods. Its a waste of
>time in my opinion. Also a big waste of a high end rod. I
>got a high end blank and components partially because of its
>light weight. Adding weight to it defeats the purpose of
>having a light weight rod. I'll take an unbalanced 2.8 ounce
>rod over a balanced 4 ounce rod any day.
>
>I add balancing kits to about 15% of my custom rods. Maybe
>even as little as 10%.
>
>Matt Davis
>
>Better to have and not need than to need and not have!


thanks
:)

[REW]

San,
It is really up to the fisherman using the rod.
Many folks find that a well balanced rod is less tiring at the end of a long fishing day" They also claim that they can better maintin their touch after a long day of fishing. If the rod is balanced, so that it rests essentially level, with no clenching of the rod required to hold it, there is less strain and less fatigue on the hand.

If you do choose to balance a rod, try to balance it with the least amount of extra weight. Preferably 0 weight. As Matt has suggested, use a high grade blank, very light guides and the appropriate handle and most rods will require little or no weight to be reasonably well balanced.

Generally speaking, it is not a good idea to put lead up the butt of the rod. To balance a rod like this takes too much weight and brings the lead close to the reel and thus loses the blance arm to minimize weight gain. It is much better to balance at the very butt of the rod using either a built in system or an aftermarket that keep the tiny weight required as far aft as possible on the rod to minimize the overall weight gain - hopefully 0.

take care
REW

[San Chan]

>San,
>It is really up to the fisherman using the rod.
>Many folks find that a well balanced rod is less tiring at the
>end of a long fishing day" They also claim that they can
>better maintin their touch after a long day of fishing. If the
>rod is balanced, so that it rests essentially level, with no
>clenching of the rod required to hold it, there is less strain
>and less fatigue on the hand.
>
>If you do choose to balance a rod, try to balance it with the
>least amount of extra weight. Preferably 0 weight. As Matt has
>suggested, use a high grade blank, very light guides and the
>appropriate handle and most rods will require little or no
>weight to be reasonably well balanced.
>
>Generally speaking, it is not a good idea to put lead up the
>butt of the rod. To balance a rod like this takes too much
>weight and brings the lead close to the reel and thus loses
>the blance arm to minimize weight gain. It is much better to
>balance at the very butt of the rod using either a built in
>system or an aftermarket that keep the tiny weight required as
>far aft as possible on the rod to minimize the overall weight
>gain - hopefully 0.
>
>take care
>REW
>


Any suggestions on "Any" Products that can help me balance?
Thanks
:cheers: